Waiting for a NOA2 from VSC for your I-129F?

[Adrians Mom 0]

Yeah...I work in federal govt too....federal holidays means all federal agencies closed...including wack a$$ VSC.

[rouguewave 7]

This is what I received from the ombudsman's office, which is pretty similar to what Steve got:

"You are not alone in expressing this concern. CISOMB has notified USCIS leadership of the situation and been pleased by the apparent responsiveness. Reproduced in relevant part below is what USCIS has told us.

Right now the [Vermont Service] center is actively working fiancée petitions received on June 4th, which is slightly ahead of our 6 month goal. Of course some older cases are still being worked that have issues with respect to missing documentation, where we have had to ask for additional material, or where there are substantive background or other issues.

We recognize the circumstances of fiancée petitions, and each petitioner’s intense interest in getting their case processed so their fiancée may apply for a visa to come here to marry. To be fair to everyone we do work to process these cases in strict order. There are limited exceptions where a case may be processed more quickly, for example where we use a case for training purposes. Similarly we do give a somewhat higher priority to the K-3 variation of these petitions filed along with an I-130 relative petition since in essence we consider the duplicative K-3 petition an expedite request. Further, since the Vermont Service Center processes a large volume of cases, they may be working cases of any given type that were received over a few days or weeks time. For example, in August and September the Vermont Service Center received over 4,300 fiancée petitions and over 22,000 relative petitions. That’s over 100 fiancée petitions and 500 relative petitions per business day. To handle that volume means we distribute it among a significant number of our employees.

I recommend you check our website occasionally for updates on our processing times. If you don’t receive an answer within the processing time, I suggest you contact our National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283 for assistance."

Basically a form letter they have devised. But it helps to have a better understanding of the volumes they are dealing with. Definitely puts it into a better perspective for me.

Here's a little more perspective that you can drop into the FWIW bucket. I did a quick query of the VJ NOA1 receipts records for Aug&Sept and came up with a total of 96 (that's 64 Aug + 32 Sep). That works out to appx 2.2325581395348837209% (+ or - a few digits) of their total. I'm interested to hear from those who are more statistically knowledgeable than me if that represents a statistically significant sampling, for analysis purposes.

I'm actually quite surprised. For some reason, I guess I suspected the proportional amount of VJers would be less. Something like <0.1%. I actually think this is a lot.

[ben2 0]

This is what I received from the ombudsman's office, which is pretty similar to what Steve got:

"You are not alone in expressing this concern. CISOMB has notified USCIS leadership of the situation and been pleased by the apparent responsiveness. Reproduced in relevant part below is what USCIS has told us.

Right now the [Vermont Service] center is actively working fiancée petitions received on June 4th, which is slightly ahead of our 6 month goal. Of course some older cases are still being worked that have issues with respect to missing documentation, where we have had to ask for additional material, or where there are substantive background or other issues.

We recognize the circumstances of fiancée petitions, and each petitioner’s intense interest in getting their case processed so their fiancée may apply for a visa to come here to marry. To be fair to everyone we do work to process these cases in strict order. There are limited exceptions where a case may be processed more quickly, for example where we use a case for training purposes. Similarly we do give a somewhat higher priority to the K-3 variation of these petitions filed along with an I-130 relative petition since in essence we consider the duplicative K-3 petition an expedite request. Further, since the Vermont Service Center processes a large volume of cases, they may be working cases of any given type that were received over a few days or weeks time. For example, in August and September the Vermont Service Center received over 4,300 fiancée petitions and over 22,000 relative petitions. That’s over 100 fiancée petitions and 500 relative petitions per business day. To handle that volume means we distribute it among a significant number of our employees.

I recommend you check our website occasionally for updates on our processing times. If you don’t receive an answer within the processing time, I suggest you contact our National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283 for assistance."

Basically a form letter they have devised. But it helps to have a better understanding of the volumes they are dealing with. Definitely puts it into a better perspective for me.

Here's a little more perspective that you can drop into the FWIW bucket. I did a quick query of the VJ NOA1 receipts records for Aug&Sept and came up with a total of 96 (that's 64 Aug + 32 Sep). That works out to appx 2.2325581395348837209% (+ or - a few digits) of their total. I'm interested to hear from those who are more statistically knowledgeable than me if that represents a statistically significant sampling, for analysis purposes.

I'm actually quite surprised. For some reason, I guess I suspected the proportional amount of VJers would be less. Something like <0.1%. I actually think this is a lot.

So for the month of october, VJ displays 19 K1 approvals, which taking 2.2% approximation would come out to (19/0.022) approx 864 K1 approvals per month for Vermont.

Further approximating to 20 business days per month, that would come out to just over 43 K1 vermont approvals per day.

Now, how many petitions can a single person approve in an 8 hour shift? I've read somewhere on VJ that for an easy one it takes only 15 min. Assuming for simplicity sake 10.75 approvals per person per day (at a bit under 45 min per petition (60*8/10.75)), that would mean they had only 43/10.75=4 (FOUR) adjudicators working on K1 petitions in October in the whole of Vermont!!!

Now, i might have made a mistake with the calculations or approximations somewhere, and I sure hope I did, BUT if my calculations are correct, the whole backlog could have easily been avoided by hiring just a few more K1 adjudicators!!!!

[BYRON-LEIDY 0]

They really need to get their act together!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! All of this completely unacceptable!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[BabyBlueSusie 1]

nothing, ay?

we can only hope for a better tomorrow

[Ovaltine Jenkins 5]

As for me, I am surprised...I didn´t think they receive THAT many petitions...and I was thinking VJ´s were forming like 40% of it

[BYRON-LEIDY 0]

Nothing at all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My feeling of " maybe tomorrow" is growing old on me...dont get me wrong i really hope tomorrow is the day but falling on my face at the end of everyday because nothing new happens is too common now!!!!!!!

I have been patient for a while but im starting tomlose it again, this is BS.....they are soooo sloppy, rude and cocky to top it off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[virgillionaire 0]

Yeah...I work in federal govt too....federal holidays means all federal agencies closed...including wack a$$ VSC.

Sorry, i noticed monday was Veterans Day a little late. I requested that they hold the press release until Tuesday.

Also, if VSC is closed monday the shipper will just redeliver on tuesday, so it should work out

I sent about 5 lbs of kisses, so I hope they got their sweet tooth back from Halloween!

[BYRON-LEIDY 0]

Yeah...I work in federal govt too....federal holidays means all federal agencies closed...including wack a$$ VSC.

Sorry, i noticed monday was Veterans Day a little late. I requested that they hold the press release until Tuesday.

Also, if VSC is closed monday the shipper will just redeliver on tuesday, so it should work out

I sent about 5 lbs of kisses, so I hope they got their sweet tooth back from Halloween!

virgillionaire....Great effort!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

From me and im sure from everyone......THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!

[rae_and_scott 1]

Yeah...I work in federal govt too....federal holidays means all federal agencies closed...including wack a$$ VSC.

Sorry, i noticed monday was Veterans Day a little late. I requested that they hold the press release until Tuesday.

Also, if VSC is closed monday the shipper will just redeliver on tuesday, so it should work out

I sent about 5 lbs of kisses, so I hope they got their sweet tooth back from Halloween!

Could I make a request that you periodically repost, or add to your signature, the link to ordering the kisses? This will make it easier for people (like myself ) not to laze out or have to search back through the posts to find where/how to do it.

[virgillionaire 0]

OK, IT'S TIME TO SEND THE CHOCOLATE KISSES!!!!

I PLAN TO ISSUE THE PRESS RELEASE FOR MONDAY. I THINK IF WE START ORDERING FROM

WWW.HERSHEYGIFTS.COM TOMORROW, THURSDAY AND FRIDAY THEY SHOULD START TO BE BOMBARDED WHEN THE PRESS RELEASE COMES OUT.

DON'T FORGET TO ADD A MESSAGE WITH YOUR ORDER(S) AT CHECKOUT. LIKE 'HURRY IT UP ALREADY' OR ONE OF THE EARLIER SUGGESTIONS FROM AMRSSNOWANGEL, ETC.

SHIP THEM TO:

P NOVAK, ADJUDICATORS, AND STAFF

USCIS VERMONT SERVICE CENTER

75 LOWER WELDEN ST

ST ALBANS, VT 05479-0001

ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS?

LET'S DO IT

I'll order mine today....

How about a note like:

KEEP THOSE K APPROVALS COMING!!

I'll send my share for the press release as well..

Thank you for your hard work on this...

Guys, dont think that just because they are moving that it means it will STAY moving, this habit repeats itself with USCIS where they get more work and have delays...we must keep the pressure on

Ok here's the website for the kisses and the address to send to again, complete with cheerleading by Amrssnowangel!

Byron, thanks for your comments buddy, I just hope it makes a difference for you and all of us! Fingers crossed

[afterforever 0]

Byron, yes! Do call. When was the last time you called? You too Mel and Syl.

Shoot I got lucky when I called and got an officer on the phone. Hope you do too. I say, keep bugging them!

I actually called yesterday, i got a guy that was very nice and polite...he explained that once the RFE requested returns, they put it back on a shelf until they get a bunch so that an officer starts adjudicating them... .....Im tired of calling and getting a run around or someone rude...last time , which was last Friday, i got a rude lady just wanted to know what i was calling for, i explained and then she started telling me how she had a record on her screen of how i have called for the same thing a couple of times...i told her , well of course , im still waiting for an approval..thats why....im just sick of calling that place!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I do not care what they say to me anymore about all the calls I have made. It is my right to call USCIS at anytime to see what is happening with my petition. Why do they have customer service reps. if they do not expect people to call. In addition, if they would move the petitions along quicker, they would not have people calling so much.

Good luck Byron. I hope you get your approval real soon!!!

Edited November 9, 2007 by afterforever

[BYRON-LEIDY 0]

Thanks afterforever!!!!

Im really starting to fade with the optimism.....tonight i feel depressed because this whole thing is out of my hands and i cant do a damn thing about it....Tonight is one of those nights that it is killing me really bad...I would give anything to hear Leidy's voice or her son running around...instead all i here is this silence that seems soooo loud and torturing!!! I'm losing hope! I actually had a long time that i was patient and was taking well as each day passed but after spending the 5 days with Leidy in Panama, this is becoming something too difficult to deal with....But like i said .....i cant do anything about it..

[afterforever 0]

Thanks afterforever!!!!

Im really starting to fade with the optimism.....tonight i feel depressed because this whole thing is out of my hands and i cant do a damn thing about it....Tonight is one of those nights that it is killing me really bad...I would give anything to hear Leidy's voice or her son running around...instead all i here is this silence that seems soooo loud and torturing!!! I'm losing hope! I actually had a long time that i was patient and was taking well as each day passed but after spending the 5 days with Leidy in Panama, this is becoming something too difficult to deal with....But like i said .....i cant do anything about it..

That's why I have not been back to visit my fiance in Thailand, even though I have been tempted very much to do so. The problem is that emotionally it would be extemely hard for me (and her) to leave each again, so I chose to wait until she has her interview before I go back. We both told each other that the next time I come, we will never be apart again, ever.

I wish I could give you more comfort than my words but just keep telling yourself your approval will come soon. Hang in there Byron, not only for yourself but for your fiancee also. Good luck!!

[BYRON-LEIDY 0]

Thanks afterforever...its just one of those nights tonight...the silence is killing me...im watching TV but its like staring into space...I want her here so bad and its all in their hands....Gotta just wait..